Pour spout closure for containers



Nov. 27, 1956 G. T. RIEKE POUR SPOUT CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 16, 1954 2 sheets-shea 1 IN V EN TOR.

Nov. 27, 1956 T, RIEKE 2,772,037

POURv SPOUT CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent PoUn sPoU'r CLosUnE Fon CoNrAiNuRs Glenn T. Rieke, Auburn, Ind., assigner to Rieke Metal Products Corporation, Auburn, Ind., a corporation Application February 16, 1954, Serial No. 410,66

7 Claims. (Cl. Z22-481) This invention relates to a pour spout closure for containers, and particularly that type of metal container of from one to five gallon capacity commonly employed for packaging motor oil as well as other liquids, wherein a threaded closure spout may be pulled from retracted closing position nesting within the container to an outwardly extending position, somewhat of the character disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 369,061, led June 8, 1953, entitled Pull Spout Closure for Containers.

This invention contemplates a unitary pull spout and closure plug which are inseparable irrespective of the spout being in pouring or closing position, and wherein there is provided a separate internally threaded ilange through which the spout is adapted to slide between closing and pouring positions and with which the integral closure plug is threadably engaged for closing and sealing.

in the so-called metal cans of this type it has heretofore been customary to provide the flat top of the can with an opening in which there is soldered or otherwise secured an upstanding metal spout formed with external screw threads for receiving an internally threaded metal cap provided with a sealing gasket. inasmuch as the metal spout extends upwardly above the top surface of the can, a problem arises in respect to the sealing of the cartons in which the cans are shipped. Due to this upstanding Aspout projection the sealing ilaps of the carton are necessarily spaced above the top of the can to accommodate said spout. Since a dat surface is necessary for supporting the sealing aps of the carton during the pressing operation for sealing them, it is customary to provide and secure to the top of the can a flat handle -at the same level as the top of the spout and its cap, the at handle providing -a support for the sealing operation. Such extension of the carton also adds to its costs due to the increase in material necessary therefor. Furthermore, in such metal spout and screw cap closures there is no protection against unlawful opening of the spout and tampering with the contents of the can.

it is the purpose of this invention to provide a retractable spout, which, together with the integral externally threaded plug formed on the outer end thereof will not protrude upwardly from the top surface of the can beyond its crimped marginal edges or chimes, whereby in shipment there is no material upstanding projection and consequently no necessity of having a corresponding upstanding handle to provide a ap supporting surface in sealing a carton thereover. This effects a saving in respect to attaching a handle to the can, as well as elicoting a saving in the material or' the carton.

ln addition to the savings effected, this invention provides for a tamper-proof seal wherein the contents of the container cannot be removed until the seal is broken, as well as providing for an extended pouring spout for pouring the liquid from the container which may be extended or retracted within the container for stacking, as well as packing; the tamper-proof seal additionally serving asa sealing gasket.

rifice One feature of the invention resides inthe pouring spout and closure plug being formed and remaining integral as a one piece single unit. By reason of this structure, after pouring the spout may be retracted and the plug screwed into the ange for closing the opening without at any time being removed from the spout or the remaining structure. Thus, there is no danger of the plug becoming lost as in the case of conventional closures with removable caps, seals or plugs. The closure plug is at all times a part of, and is never removed from, the pouring spout which in turn is never removed from the container.

Another feature of the invention resides in the plug integrally formed with the spout having initially formed integrally therewith a tamper-proof seal including aclo- `sure lip permanently clamped over the opening of the container. Said tamper-proof seal, therefore, permanently serves as a gasket, and being initially integral with the closure plug and spout prevents access to the container until it is severed from the plug.

A further feature of the invention resides in the outer end of the pour spout being permanently closed by the plug, but having a pouring opening in the `side wall thereof immediately adjacent the plug.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the screw threaded relation of the permanently mounted plug with a permanently mounted ange securely clamped within the container. Thus, when the spout is extended for pouring, the closure plug serves as a convenient gripping member for sliding the spout outwardly through the ange, `and when it is desired to close the container, the plug may be gripped and used to slide the spout downwardly into the container through the flange, whereupon by rotation of the plug it may be screwed home into sealing engagement therewith.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawines and the following description and claims:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing the upper portion of a metal can with the spout in retracted position and the closure sealed.

Fig. 2 is a section through the upper portion of the can showing an enlarged view of the closure with the spout retracted and the tamper-proof seal lin place before opening.

3 is an enlarged section through the upper portion of the can with the pull spout extended to pouring position.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view showing the several parts of the structure before assembly.

Fig. 5 is a View taken on the line 5 5 of Fig` 4.

Fig. 6 is a view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

In the drawings there is shown a metal liquid container or can it) having a top plate or head 1l surrounded by the usual upwardly extending crimped ange or chime E13. Said top plate is provided in the usual manner With an annular opening indicated at 14 (Fig. 4) surrounded by an embossed neck 1S having a slight undercut indicated at 16, said yneck being adapted to receive the closure unit of this invention.

The pull spout closure unit consists of an elongated tubular pull spout 17. Integral with the pull spout and permanently tixed thereto there is a closure member comprising the plug i3 having a closure diaphragm 19 and a centrally disposed finger pull member 20. The external body of the plug is threaded as at 21. The upper end of the plug is flared outwardly to provide a sealing llange 22. integral with the sealing ange there is an outwardly and peripherally extending tamper-proof seal membrane 23 terminating in a downwardly and outwardly ared closure lip 24. The side wall of the spout 17 is provided with a pour opening 25 lying adjacent the closure diaphragm ,19.VY The lower end of the pour spout, opposed to the plug, is open'and surrounded by a camming lock Y Vshoulder 26 andan upwardly spaced stop flange 27.

The closure flange 23 of thev container is separately formed from the'spout and plug with itsV outer wall 29 taperingidownwardly and inwardly in conformity with the Y Y embossed neck 15 of the container to seat snugly therein.

The upper portion of the ilange is inwardly formed with a downwardly and outwardly flaring flange lip Viirdimerlsioned to snugly embrace the embossed neck 15 of the container.V Said flange is internally threaded, as indicated at 31, to Vthreadedly receive the threads 21 of the plug.

`The lower Vor, inner endof the flange is openV to provide a close fitting neck 32 for slidably receiving the spout 17.

'Y SaidYV neck is formed to be'cammed outwardly by the :camminglock 'shoulderZ' when the spout is rft assem- `bled withrthe flange, and thereafter to be cainmed by the stop flange 27 into sealing relation with peripheral groove between said flange and the loci(` shoulder, as shown in Frigr. l t Y Y Y The pour spout and plug unit with the tamper-proof is preferably formed of similar material. Thus, the neck 32 of the flange may Vbe readily stretched and contracted .in and out of the annularrgroove between the shoulder 26 and liange Z'7as the spout is extended or retracted; VAlso,

2,772,037 i' Y Y f closing.y Furthermore, the'integral plug provides a convenient handle with which to manipulate the spout withoutV Y e touching the lingers thereto or being contaminated by the liquid, The structure isv tamper-proof andthe tamperproof membrane'also serves as a double gasket seal. The

structure nests within the elevation of the chimes ofthe Y container'with the attendant advantages above discussed. f Through'the double gasket'sealeiected'by both the flange and the 'tamper-proof membrane V'there is no V danger of leakage in shipping or storing, andafter use leakage is prevented bythe double seal effected through the sealing VVVllangerZZ of the plug and the sealing ring'34 ofthe ilange when drawn together under pressure of the screw threads. The invention claimed is: i f Y lj A pour VVspout closure for acontainer having an opening surrounded by an upstanding neck, anrinternally threaded flange'extending through said opening in VsealingV relation with said neck, a tubular pouring spout lslidable Y in said flange open at itsV inner end and provided with a pouring hole in its wall adjacent itsY otherrend, an ex-Y ternally threaded plug Vintegral with said spout provid- VVseal is preferably formed of a yielding and compressible Y material, such as polyethylene (natural). The flange 29 Vby reason of the character of the material from which the e units are formed, the flange lip 31? and the closure lipZd on the plugjointly serve as sealing gaskets. Also, by reason of the character of the material of which Vthe tamper-proofseal membranerof the plug isrformed, vand Y with'the spacing between the plug and flange, as indicated at 33 in Fig. 2, the tamper-proof seal membrane may be severed by a pocket 'knife or like instrument'about the periphery of the plug. Thus, before severance and with fthe structure Varranged as shownV in Fig..2, the closure is protected against tampering or unlawful opening due to4 the integral relation of the membrane 23, clamped closure f lip Z4 and plugl. Hou/ever, upon being severed about'.-Y the plug, the spout maybe extended to the position shown t in YFigr, for pouring the liquid through the hole 25 in its wall. After pouring, the spout may be retracted .to the position'shown in" Fig. 2, but with the membrane cut at.Vir

'33. Through the medium of the finger pull member` 2G ing a closure at said other end for 'threaded sealing 'engagement with'said flange, a flange lip integral Ywith said.VV ilange Vsurrounding said neck, a closure lip integral with and s'ev'erable from said plug surrounding said flange flip, and a cl'ampingring embracing Vsaid lips crimped thereonV to effect a permanent seal with said neck.

2. A pour spoutclosure for a container havingranV opening, a flange extending through said opening in'seal-r ing relation therewith, a tubular spout slidableY in V'saidY Y' flange open at its .inner end and provided with a pouring hole in its wall adjacent its other end, a plug integral,VV Y with said spout providing a closure at' said other'end for Ysealing engagement with said flange uponV said spout extending therethrough VViriits retracted positionV and releasable from said langeto permitrsa'id spout Vto be extended*V to its pouring position, a `tamper-proof seal membrane y 'formed integral with said plug toextend outwardly from the plug may then` be screwed'horne in the flange'v/ithV theV Y lange'. Y I Y e For convenient Vlilling ofthe containerV which'rnay be shippedrto the source of liquid, the nllingirnay beaccom-V plished throughY the opening ifi the can before the closureis applied; The Vclosure vcomprises the Yremaining three units,'as shown in; 4. 17in the closure after the container is filled, the ilange is first seated in the Yopening VwithV the flange lip 3d embracing the embossed Vneck g The spout andV plug are thenY inserted through the flange and screwedhometherein with theV closure lip of the tampenproof seal membrane Vembracing theV 'ange' lip 39. Thereupon the clamping ring isnested about ,the plug with itsfdownwardly and outwardly flaring 'skirt'V V36 embracing Vthe closure lip 24 thereof as well as the 1 `flange lip 3? and neck Vl5. A Ysuitable tool'is then applied ',to'clamp or crimp the skirt 36 thereabout to Ycompress vthe said lips into sealing relation with the embossed necio' To provide arvent when theV spout isextendedtopouring which lies in the Vfact that theclosure plugis Ynever sepa- VAratedanlfneed-not.be removed andlreplaced as'usual,1and

cannot be lost, thusrsavingV operatorsmtime' inipouringand Y sealing ilan'ge'ZZ of theV plug bearing in Vsealing engage` Y t ment'with a lsealing ring 34 (Fig. 4) formed Within theY the periphery Vthereof and terminating ina closure 'lip surrounding said llange, and a clamping ring embracing said lip and crimped thereagainst to force it into Vgasketlike sealing relation with said flange upon said'plug being positioned in sealing engagement therewith, said meme. Ybranebeing severable Vfrom said plug to permit with-V drawal from said flange.

3. A pour spout closure for arcontainer havingan Yopening surrounded by an upstandingrneck,.an internally Y threaded flange extending through said opening insealing relation withjsaid neck, a tubular pouring spout' slid?V able in said flangerorpenrat its inner-end and Vprovided e with a pouringrhole ,ini its Wall adjacent iits'o'ther end,-

an .externally threaded pluginteg'ral with Vsaid spout pro?)V Y V1d1ng a closure at said other end for threaded sealingV Y engagement with said flange, a flange lipfintegral with said flange surrounding said neck, a closure lip integral Y with and severable frornsaid plugV surrounding said flange,Y

lip, 'a clamping ring embracing said lipskzn'mpedfthereonV to effect a permanent seal with said neck, and'l'ockingV V:and sealing members at the open end of'said spout and the inner'end; ofrsai-d flange for limiting the extended Y Aposition of said spout relative toV said flange and effect- '-ingasealtherebetween Y 4Q A pour spout closure yfor a container having 'an open- 'aV ingV surrounded by Van undercut ,upstanding'fneck,Yanv in-W,

terna'lly threaded ilange of yielding material extendingY *Y thr'oughsaid opening in sealing engagement with said neck, VaV tubular pouringspout of Isaid material slidable in said flange open at its, inner end VVand Vprovided with Y a pouring hole inits Wall adjacent its other end, aniexternally threaded plug of said'm-aterialfintegral with saidV1 spout providing a permanent clos'ureat'said.,othei-'eridV for threaded sealing engagement with sraidllange,fa'ilange Y lip integral Vwith said flange surrounding said Ynecln-ia Vtarnperprooffseal;nrierrbraneintegralV with and extending Y voutwardly from said plug formedwitheaffclo'smelipsurrounding said flange lip, a clamping ring embracing said lips crimped thereon to effect a permanent gasket seal with said neck, and interlocking stopping `and sealing means formed on the said open inner end of said spout and the inner end of said flange for limiting the sliding movement of said spout to extended position and eiecting a seal with said ange, said membrane being severable about and adjacent said plug to permit movement of said spout to said extended position.

5. A pour spout closure for a container having an opening surrounded by an undercut upstanding neck, an internally threaded ange of yielding material extending through said opening in sealing engagement with said neck, a tubular pouring spout of said material slidable in said ange open at its inner end and provided with a pouring hole in its wall adjacent its other end, an externally threaded plug of said material integral with said spout providing a permanent closure at said other end for threaded sealing engagement with said auge, a flange lip integral with said ange surrounding said neck, a tamper-proof seal membrane integral with and extending outwardly from said plug formed with a closure lip surrounding said ange lip, a clamping ring embracing said lips crimped thereon to eiect a permanent gasket seal with said neck, and interlocking stopping and sealing means formed on the said open inner end of said spout and the inner end of said ange for limiting the sliding movement of said spout to extended position and eiecting a seal with said flange, said membrane being severable about and adjacent said plug to permit movement of said spout to said extended position, said plug being externally recessed, and -an outwardly extending exposed iinger pull member integrally formed'on said plug Within said recess.

6. A pour spout closure for a container having an opening surrounded by an upstanding embossed neck, a closure ange mounted in said opening having an outwardly and downwardly extending sealing ange portion embracing said neck in sealing relation therewith, a tubular spout slidable through said opening and neck between retracted closure position and extended pouring position, a plug closure for said spout secured at its outer end and movable therewith when caused to slide between its retracted and extended positions, a severable tamper-proof sealing membrane integral with said plug to extend laterally therefrom over and into sealing engagement with the neck of said container, and means embracing said membrane to secure it in permanent sealing engagement with said neck whereby it will retain said spout and plug in retracted closed position relative thereto and be severable from said plug to permit said spout to be extended to pouring position.

7. A pour spout closure for a container having an opening surrounded by an upstanding embossed neck, a tubular pouring spout slidable through said opening and neck, a closure plug secured to said spout to provide a closure therefor at the outer end thereof, a sealing closure membrane having a downturned lip integral with and severable from said plug and extending laterally therefrom into surrounding and sealing relation with said up standing neck, a clamping ring embracing said closure and sealing lip crimped thereon to eiect a permanent seal thereof with said neck, and means on the inner end of said spout for limiting its movement to extended position.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 237,817 Chalk Feb. 15, 1881 772,707 Elfstrand Oct. 18, 1904 1,952,036 Dillhoefer Mar. 20, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 336,344 Great Britain Oct. 16, 1930 

